The music of revolution

The Al Jazeera network aired a video on February 24, 2011 called “The Music of Revolution”. Journalist Riz Khan interviewed musician Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, about his latest song “My People” which is inspired by the popular uprisings calling for freedom and change in the Arab world. The song was recorded in a studio 100 meters from the Berlin Wall, which fell in 1989 paving the way for the unification of Germany and the collapse of communism in Europe.

The video asks, “How can musicians invoke the spirit of rebellion?” and “How important is music as an instrument of social change?” They also discuss social networks and the way new technologies are helping to create change in the Middle East. Yusuf explains, “It shows you the incredible power the internet can be when it’s used correctly for ideas.”